Chapter 18 Boss, I'm a student In the bookstore, the owner was leisurely lying on a rattan chair enjoying the cool air. Although there were fans on in the store, he still pretended to be holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand, waving it from time to time, and his legs were suspended high and placed on the counter. Fang Wei still remembers that in the previous version, Xu Cailing's dream was to open a bookstore. Because she felt that running a bookstore was too relaxing. Not only could she make money, but she also had endless comic books to read. For now, running a bookstore is indeed quite profitable. After all, the channels and methods for people to obtain information are quite limited. Whether you want to read comics, read, or find learning materials, you have to go to the bookstore in the end. But with the gradual popularization of the Internet and the entry of mobile phones and computers into households, the bookstore business will become quite difficult. Seeing a customer coming in, the boss put his feet down from the counter. "Do you want to buy books or stationery?"
Most of the people entering the store are teenagers, and the adult boss speaks quite casually to these boys and girls. "Return the book first! I rented it from you last time!" Fang Wei and the other two put the books they rented last time on the counter in front of the boss. The boss picked up the book and checked it carefully. "Did you return it directly, or rent a few more?" "Let's take a look first!" When renting a book, you have to pay a deposit, which is usually the selling price of the book. It feels good to see money coming into your pocket, but it feels bad to see money going out of your pocket. Naturally, the boss doesn't want to refund their deposit, and it would be best if they continue to rent a few books and leave. Without the boss's greeting, the three of them walked towards the bookshelf where the target books were. Fang Wei was looking for some classic literature books. In a small town, not many people would rent this kind of books specifically to read. Either they have money and buy them directly to read at home or to display their products. Few people rent them, after all, renting means not having much money. When people don't have much money, the general public would prefer entertainment books or more practical skill books. Who would have the time to read these romantic books? Fang Wei used to think the same way. He felt that these books were useless. They could neither teach him how to make money nor bring him fun. Even at that time, he could not resonate with the characters in the books. Later I realized that such reading and learning have a profound impact on people. The books he has read, the roads he has walked, and the things he has experienced will be deeply buried in his bones and reflected in his words and deeds. The temperament and vision brought about by reading are the most precious things, which cannot be bought with money. Fang Wei cannot ask his friends to love reading as much as he does, but he can find and glimpse the truest self deep in his heart through reading. This feeling of inner fulfillment is quite refreshing and addictive. The last book he borrowed was Fortress Besieged, which Fang Wei spent two weeks to finish. His goal today was also very clear. His fingers lightly slid across the bookshelf and finally stopped on a book. He carefully took it out and held it in his hands. [I believe that everyone has an awakening period, but the early or late awakening determines the individual's fate] ——Lu Yao's "Ordinary World" Perhaps no one had read it for a long time, so there was a little dust on the pages. Fang Wei gently dusted them off, slowly opened the book from the cover to the title page, and just stood there and started reading. Xu Cailing and Fang Yuansheng also found their target comics. They sat cross-legged on the ground and demonstrated unprecedented concentration, storing the images on the paper in their minds like treasures. The boss at the counter glanced in the direction of Fang Wei and the other two, said nothing, and just raised his wrist to check the time. This is a bookstore, not a library, so he naturally does not allow customers to buy his books for free without any restrictions.
Of course, the boss has some business acumen and will not chase them away immediately when he sees them reading. He will generally give them some free reading time, maybe ten minutes, or twenty minutes when he is in a good mood, but no more. When they are too engrossed in reading, he will remind them. The way of reminding is also very tactful. He will turn off the fan in the store. Feeling the gradually increasing stuffiness in the air, most sensible customers will probably understand that they have been getting things for free for long enough. The three of them chose their books and each took them to the counter. "Ah Sheng, you rent this one later and I'll rent this one." "No problem! Let's make a deal, I'll look first this time!" "Okay, okay, you look first, you look first..." School was about to start, so the three of them went to the bookstore not just to rent books. Exercise books, oil pen refills (if you have pen holders at home, it is most economical to buy replacement refills), rulers, compasses, etc., continue to use those that are still usable, buy new ones if they are not, anyway, you always need to buy stationery. I also need to buy a schoolbag. The one I used before seemed a bit childish, so I bought a new gray canvas backpack. It is more practical than stylish, and it just needs to be cheap and durable. The owner of a bookstore at the school gate is very smart. He knows that anything that students might need can be bought here. "Boss, do you have any watches?" Fang Wei asked out loud, he really needed a watch to check the time. "Yes, it depends on which one you want." As the boss spoke, he pulled out a board covered with various watches from behind the counter. He put expensive goods like these that were easily taken away on this side of the counter. They are all quartz electronic watches, the only difference is the style and function. As for mechanical watches, the boss doesn't have any. This thing is expensive, and people won't buy mechanical watches from him. People who just want to check time will not choose to buy it. After all, it is not accurate, and the error can be dozens of seconds a day. But it is pretentious enough, and it is the only choice for people with status and money. "Boss, are these watches accurate?" "Don't worry, unless the power is out, it will be accurate." “How many years can an electron last?” “Two to three years is fine.” "How much does this cost?" Fang Wei picked out a watch. The style was what he liked. It was light and simple, and there was nothing cluttered on the dial. There was only a little luminous green stone on the hands, so that he could see the time even in a dark environment. "eighteen." "Will you sell it for ten dollars? I'm a student." Fang Wei spoke very casually, and did not show any liking for the watch. He just picked it up, took a look at it, and then put it back. The boss was a little confused by his bargaining. Is this a price a student can bargain for? He almost cut it in half! Is this a real deal?! Fang Wei had his reasons for bargaining so hard. After all, the prices of goods are quite opaque nowadays. He didn't need to guess to know that the boss's offer of eighteen yuan for this watch was definitely expensive, and there must be a lot of profit margin in it. "Young man, I don't bargain as hard as you do. My purchase price is more than ten dollars. If you really want it, I'll sell it to you for sixteen dollars. This is because you bought a lot of things from me." "How about Twelve?"
“I can’t sell it.” "Forget it, I'll go to the roadside stall later." Fang Wei had no regrets and asked the boss to settle the previous bills first. After settling the bill, he picked up his bag and prepared to leave. But just as he stepped out of the store, the boss called him: "Thirteen! Do you want it? If you sell it any cheaper, I really can't sell it!" "..." Fang Wei hesitated for a while, but finally came back to get the watch and paid. This operation shocked Xu Cailing and Fang Yuansheng who were waiting to pay. The seemingly calm but extremely fierce tug of war cut off a full five dollars! With this level of skill, even if my parents were to come out, they would only be able to do this... Since Fang Wei had set a precedent, the shy Xu Cailing and Fang Yuansheng were also eager to try it out. "Boss, can I have this schoolbag?" "No." "..." "..." "Oh." …… "This boss is so abominable! I will never buy anything from him again!!" After paying the bill and leaving the house, Xu Cailing was so angry at her failed bargaining attempt that Fang Wei couldn't help laughing. "You're still laughing! Why can you bargain down the price so easily? Teach me!" "You won't be able to learn even if I teach you." "Because you're thicker-skinned?" "...Hey, there's no point in chatting like this! Bargaining is a psychological game. You don't even know what the price is, so naturally you won't have the confidence to bargain and you won't be able to get the price down. The boss is not a fool. He can tell you are fooled by your hesitant look." "Then do you know the approximate price of this watch?" "I asked at a roadside stall last time, but I didn't buy it then." "Sly! Then why don't you help me cut the schoolbag!" "Don't worry, you didn't buy the bag too expensively. It's probably the same price in the market. The boss is more confident than you are. I can't bargain him down even if I were him." After hearing Fang Wei's analysis, Xu Cailing felt much better. She thought that she was the same age as Fang Wei, so how could he be so powerful? Of course, she refused to admit it. "Then if I want to buy anything in the future, I'll ask you to help me cut the price!" "..." After buying the things, there was nothing else to buy, so the three of them were not in a hurry to go home. Taking advantage of this rare freedom, they rode their bikes together and strolled around the town.
The strong sunlight at noon became gentle at this moment. The clouds in the sky glow golden in the afterglow of the setting sun. Looking up at the sky, it is as blue as a canvas. The clouds are slowly drifting to the west under the influence of the wind. "It's almost time, do you have anything else to buy?" "No more, set off and go home!" On the way back, Fang Wei and Xu Cailing switched positions again. He was responsible for riding the bike and Cailing sat in the back seat. Xu Cailing didn't feel like hugging his waist like he did just now, so she just held on to the bicycle frame in a reserved manner. Standing next to him was Ah Sheng, humming the ear-piercing song "Four pounds of soybeans! Three belts! " "Can you please stop singing! It sounds terrible!" "Hey, I'll just sing, I'll just sing!" "Fang Wei, ride faster! I want to kick him!" "Come on, come on?" "Xu Cailing, you treat me like a donkey. You can say whatever you want, but please don't spank me, okay?" "You're riding too slowly, get off and let me take over!" "Just stay here quietly." The two bicycles rode leisurely, accompanied by the sunset and the evening breeze, out of the town and onto the Baitan Bridge connecting the two islands. The sound of waves under the bridge and the chirping of seabirds in the sky were in their ears. Before I knew it, I had returned to the village. The sky had begun to darken, and only the clouds drifting in the wind still reflected the red afterglow of the sunset. The three of them were riding on the bumpy village road. They vaguely heard the sound of a motorcycle behind them, so they consciously moved to the right. The sound of the engine sounded familiar, so I turned around and saw that it was my dad riding a motorcycle. There was a brand new bicycle tied to Fang Xianfeng's motorcycle. "Why did you three come back just now? Have you finished signing up?" Fang Xianfeng rode his motorcycle to the side of the boy and girl, slowing down and driving parallel to them. "I've finished reporting! Uncle, did you buy this bicycle for Wei?" As they got closer, the three of them could naturally see clearly the brand new bicycle tied to the motorcycle. It was also a student style, and it was a very cool and sexy orange color! "Yes, I asked someone to buy it the day before yesterday, and it was just delivered to the dock today." "Awesome! Wei, you have a new car too!" "Is it true? Why didn't I hear you say it before?" Looking at the new car, Fang Wei was also a little surprised. "You little brat, I've already given you a ride home, is this true?" Fang Wei smiled. He had never heard his father mention this before. The old man was quite good at giving surprises. "Fang Wei, let's form a convoy?!"
The two friends seemed to be more excited than him. Compared to the ambiguous fantasy of riding a bike together, Xu Cailing obviously prefers to ride side by side with him. "How about Team Pineapple?!" “…Not very good.” Although he was not very fond of the name of this so-called team, Fang Wei was still quite happy to have his own new bicycle. This means that his scope of activities will become wider in the future. (End of this chapter)